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Alta Reeds

Author: WhitePlainsDave
Date: 2017-07-30 06:06

Hi all.

From what I can glean from albeit rudimentary search here, reference to the above Silverstein Works refundable cane reed product seems sparse.

And if "ain't here on the bboard, and it regards clarinet opinion, it ain't gonna be nowhere."

Has anyone tried this product and its subscription service and have objective stories, good or bad, to tell of their experience?

=======

I'll tell you the part that troubles me.

On the second half of the order page:

https://www.silversteinworks.com/product/alta-clarinet-reeds/

the Terms and Conditions are clearly written in what appears to me, paradoxically enough, as ambiguous language.

To wit: "No cherry picking – Only non-usable, unplayable reeds will be eligible to be returned for replacement."

So--if I've got this right, you order X number of reeds. You try them all. If any of them can't.........wait for it........."play," whatever that means, then you send them back. Don't work on em...just send em back.

Hmm....I could make an entire box of Vandorens...."play" (said slowly or with air quotes for effect, seeking to play games with definitions of "play")...as if the definition of play involves making a sound that can be identified as a note in a particular key. I may have to turn my embouchure into a vice grip, or blow like I'm putting out a fire...but "play?"

I'd love to know what Silverstein's definition of play is in the context mincing no words. Explain it to me like I am a 3 year old. Slow and stupid.

And if it's truly what I describe, I think I'd fair better under this standard of play buying a box of Vanilla Ricos.

They do define cherry picking as not judging the reeds of a pool with each other, but to a consistent external standard if I may paraphrase. I'd be fine with that if that consistent external standard is high (not impossible: substantially less consistent than Legere's.)

Are we talking a Legere (synthetic) standard of consistency here? I can't possible see how.

And while I can't see this to be the case, does "useable" include the use of helping to fill the bag of recyclable organic waste that my municipality picks up?

I serious doubt, even at the price, that their reeds are being finished by hand specific to their playing hardness (not thickness).

And yet, I can't help but think they are marketing to the very best of clarinet players willing to shell out the bucks for something that's remarkable consistent, good and long lasting.

In fairness to Silverstein, if all they are saying is, "look, if you are returning 90% of our reeds we're sending you then you're not right for this program," I get it.

What happens to the reeds a purchaser deems unplayable and returns for replacements?

I don't mean to trash on Silverstein's reed product not having tried it. Nor are my standards harsh. If anything resembling consensus comes back with, "you know what, you get a dud now and then, but these reeds are really consistent and strong," I shall be highly impressed.

But when a for profit company writes of a desire to provide this service,"...not into a viable business model but into a grand statement," my skeptical meter, scaled from 1 - 10, goes to "11."

Post Edited (2017-07-30 06:27)

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